Activities of naphthoquinones against Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae), vector of dengue and Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818), intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni.

Larvicidal (against Aedes aegypti Linnaeus, 1762) and molluscicidal (against Biomphalaria glabrata Say, 1818) activities of several natural and synthetic naphthoquinones were measured, with significant results. The best larvicidal compound is 3-bromojuglone, while the better molluscicides are 2-bromo- and 3-bromo-5-acetoxy-1,4-naphthoquinones together with the 3-bromo-5-methoxy derivative. The present results reinforce the potential use of substituted hydroxyquinones, their salts and halogenated quinones as very promising compounds against 4th instar larves of Aedes aegypti, the vector of dengue and against adult snail of Biomphalaria glabrata.